Solar Energy Myths Debunked

buying Solar is like buying a used car on Parramatta Road or the equivalent interstate, Same system quotes from $3,500 to over $7,000, special deals if I sign up now, if I haven't responded withing 3 days I'm offered another panel, free. Each power provider offered different rebates, I threw my hands in the air and gave up. rgds, keith 

I only get the low feed in tariff benefit, but it has brought down my Electricity cost quite substancially. I don't know about the Panels lasting 25 years, after three years, five of my 20 panels had packed in, cost to replace was $400.00 each panel, total $2000.00. My original supplier was no longer in existance, and the manufacturer of the panels only had Chinese writing on them, which nobody could understand. I know that Solar Panels are the best way to go, but how do you know what panels are any good, and what are rubbish. As I still have 15 of the original panels, it will be very costly to replace them. I realise that you can have an installation, for about $4000.00 plus Government subsidy, but when you want to replace a small number, they are $400.00 each. 

Keith Insurance will cover a lightning strike but NOT a power surge. Even if covered, with an excess of $500 you are still waiting nearly 18 months to cover the cost. 

Don't bother with solar unless you can get $ benefits from rebates. The truth is that the booster cuts in early in the morning when water is very cool and the sun is not yet up. By the time the sun is shining, the booster has already heated the water and you've been charged for the electricity for this period. Solar is only good when all days are fine and warm and you can then turn off the booster. 

I clicked on the "check out the latest feed-in-tariffs offers for FiftyUp Club members." line, and it took me to an Origin Energy Electricity offer. Nothing about feed in tariff offers. 

Myth: Solar energy saves the Planet from the release of CO2. Fact: When averaged over 25 years the average CO2 level is significantly less than that which would have been produced by a coal-fired power station BUT the mining of materials, manufacturing of solar panels and installation/connection to the grid of Solar panels (and associated inverters) is leading to a massive rise in the amount of CO2 released in the short term so adding solar systems is detrimental to anthropogenic gas emissions. Myth: Solar can be used to reduce electricity prices. Fact: Solar can reduce the electricity prices only because the price of electricity has been escalated by subsidies and there is no carbon tax applied to solar (see above). If a carbon tax was to be applied to the cost of mining , manufacturing and installation of solar then only people in remote regions would use solar. We are being lied to and the facts are being totally distorted. Wind turbines are even more detrimental to anthropogenic emissions. 

I have a 1.5kw system and save about $360 a year. The inverter had to be replaced last year - cost more than two thousand dollars. It will be nearly six years before I start saving money again. A hidden trap not often spoken about. George 

Our Electricity bill has gone from almost $500 to under $250. Peter from Perth 

How much is a battery because most people are not at home during the day, & smart metering is set to be dear at peak times when people need to use it 

I always smile when I read the panels have a 25 year(80%) performance guarantee. It would be so easy to believe the panel guarantee is therefore 25 years. The product guarantee is often 10 years but sometimes only 5 years! Misleading some might say. Others might call it at least ambiguous or even a scam.